Pain Relief Chiropractic

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological autoimmune disease that affects an estimated 2.5 million people globally and accounts for about $85 billion a year in both direct and indirect healthcare costs in the United States alone. Typical MS symptoms and clinical presentations can include sensory loss affecting sight (optic nerve), weakness (motor nerves/brain), facial muscle weakness (facial cranial nerve), ataxia (cerebellum, motor cortex, spinal cord), vertigo (inner ear, vestibular branch of the cranial nerve), pain, fatigue, bladder/bowel control, and psychological disorders. Because the condition is not fully understood and has been linked to both genetic and environmental causes, there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment available to MS patients. Conventional pharmaceutical approaches may have a limited effect, and these immunomodulating or immunosuppressing drugs can lead to adverse allergic reactions that affect the skin and other organs. This has led many patients and researchers to explore alternative and complementary treatment approaches to help slow the progression of the disease and improve a patient’s quality of life.

An October 2022 systematic review looked at ten previously published randomized-control trials to investigate the effects of manual therapies in reducing symptoms in MS patients. The authors concluded that Swedish massage, acupressure, and reflexology interventions lasting 10-30 treatments spread over 4-10 weeks were effective for improving fatigue, pain, spasticity, psychological state, and physical function. 

In addition to hands-on treatment, there have been several studies exploring the role of diet and specific nutrients in MS management. Dietary approaches such as the Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and the dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet have been linked to better cognitive health and greater preservation of the thalamus (an area of the brain that relays motor and sensory data to the cerebral cortex). In particular, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may reduce the severity of some MS symptoms and oleic acid—a fatty acid found in cooking oils, meats, cheese, nuts, seeds, eggs, pasta, milk, avocados, and olives—may stimulate the production of the regulatory T cells that help keep the immune system from attacking the central nervous system.

Staying active may also benefit MS patients. One study found that using an activity tracker helped lower the risk for relapsing-remitting MS symptoms and improved the participants’ ability to maintain normal activities, including working. There’s also research to suggest the obesity, depression, and poor sleep can have a detrimental effect on MS patients, so maintaining a healthy weight and good mental health and sleep hygiene are also important. 

As with many health conditions, early detection and treatment is second only to prevention. In the case of MS, a review of medical records of more than 85,000 adults revealed that those who would eventually develop MS were more likely to make doctor visits for issues such as urinary problems, visual disturbances, abnormal skin sensations, impaired movement, and dizziness in the time preceding their diagnosis. Recognizing these clusters of symptoms can help doctors identify patients who may be at increased risk for MS earlier in the course of the disease when treatment may be more effective.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Dr

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

(717) 697-1888

Member of Chiro-Trust.org 

Tags: Whole Body Health

Peanut butter is the creamy and ground form of dry roasted peanuts that’s enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Because peanut butter is typically 90% peanuts—the rest is a combination of additives to improve flavor, shelf life, and consistency—and peanuts are considered a healthy food, do those benefits extend to peanut butter, and should we be eating it?

One serving (one tablespoon) of peanut butter contains 95 total calories and includes 8 grams of fat (mostly unsaturated fat), 4 grams of carbohydrates, and 3.5 grams of protein. Because of its high-protein content (20% of total calories come from protein), eating peanut butter can also increase satiety, which may help reduce total calories consumed in a meal and reduce snacking between meals—both of which may aid in weight loss. 

Each serving of peanut butter also includes about 7% of one’s daily fiber requirement, which benefits bowel health. Peanut butter also contains zinc, which provides anti-aging and immune system-boosting benefits. The phosphorus contained in peanut butter also promotes healthy nerve conduction, manages energy and storage, facilitates muscle contraction, and keeps bones healthy.

Natural or organic peanut butters contain fewer—if any—additives, but their natural oils separate over time and float to the surface, requiring a good stir before use. Conventional peanut butter usually contains additives to enhance taste, as well as oils that are heated and exposed to hydrogen to solidify them at room temperature. This gives a smooth, creamy texture and prolongs shelf life. No-stir peanut butter or peanut butter spread contains palm oil, which has become increasingly less describable to many health-conscious consumers due to its trans-fat content. 

A 2021 study found that increasing daily nut intake (which includes peanuts and peanut butter even though peanuts are actually a legume and not a tree nut) by five grams may lower the overall risk for cancer by 3% and for pancreatic and colon cancers specifically by 6% and 25%, respectively. Additionally, the same 5 gram per day increase in nut intake can lower the risk for cancer mortality by 4%. 

It’s clear that peanut butter offers a great way to include healthy nutrients and minerals in an individual’s diet. However, there are other nuts, such as walnuts, that may confer even greater health benefits. So eat a variety of nuts when you can and unless you have a nut allergy, consider eating peanut butter (preferably the organic or natural variety) in moderation as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Dr

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 (717) 697-1888

Member of Chiro-Trust.org 

Tags: Whole Body Health

While the typical chiropractic patient is a working-age adult, children and teenagers also experience neck pain, back pain, headaches, and other musculoskeletal conditions that may respond favorably to chiropractic treatment. In fact, a 2017 study that monitored 1,400 Danish school children for three years found that 55% experienced spinal pain during the course of the study. With the increased prevalence of sedentary behavior and obesity in the pediatric population, it’s reasonable to suggest that musculoskeletal disorders may become more common in individuals under age 18 in the coming years. To better understand the use of chiropractic care by this population, researchers in Quebec surveyed 245 chiropractors in the province.

According to the survey, pediatric patients account for less than five patient visits per week—between about .5% and 4% of a typical chiropractic practice. Among the pediatric patient population, the majority of patients were children ages 6-12 and teens aged 13-17; however, babies under 23 months of age (and under six months, in particular) are often seen in chiropractic clinics.

The data show that the most common referral source for pediatric patients is a parent, family member, or friend (presumably also a patient in the clinic), with family doctors, other chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals accounting for the remainder. Among the patients aged six and up, the most common presentations appear to be back pain and headache with conditions such as torticollis, colic/irritability, head asymmetry, motor development issues, gastrointestinal problems, sleeping difficulty, jaw/temporomandibular joint issues, and gait/walking problems being more common complaints in the under-age two patients. 

Of the doctors surveyed, 24.9% report they had attained a “Diplomate in clinical chiropractic pediatrics” meaning they had undergone post-graduate training and board examination. Additionally, 54% were active members of a pediatric and perinatal care association. The participants also noted a willingness to co-manage patients with other healthcare providers and they’d immediately refer a patient to their medical physician or hospital if they uncovered any red flags including but not limited to facture/dislocation, fever, chest pain, suicidal ideation, dehydration, persistent vomiting, persistent abdominal pain, etc.

Though the authors of the study note that specific research on chiropractic treatment in the pediatric population is lacking compared to older age groups, they report that adverse events following manual therapy are rare. For pediatric patients who do not respond to conventional treatment, a consultation with a doctor of chiropractic for evaluation may be considered for a short-term course of care to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Dr

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 (717) 697-1888

Member of Chiro-Trust.org 

Tags: Whole Body Health